Jonathan Hancock
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Bruce Hancock is the Founder of The Junior Memory Championship. A two-time Guinness World Record-Holder and former World Memory Champion, he also spent fifteen years working as a radio presenter on BBC Radio Oxford
. He has written nine books on memory
and learning, and is now working as a primary school teacher.
He was born in north-east England
, on 12 February 1972, but moved at an early age to North Yorkshire
where he spent his early childhood, and then to Nunthorpe, a suburb of Middlesbrough
. As a teenager, he became involved in broadcasting through the local hospital radio station.
After school, he took a year in Australia
before moving to Oxford
to study English at Christ Church
, Oxford University
. As a student in Oxford, he became involved with the local BBC
radio station, where he went to work after completing his studies.
Jonathan has always had a keen interest in memory and learning. His books have titles such as "How to be a Genius" and "Maximise your Memory", and have been translated into seven languages. He put his own memory techniques to good use in his university studies, gaining an Oxford First, and at the World Memory Championships
in London which he won in 1994.
Jonathan is also a keen runner; he has run the London
Marathon twice, and was chosen to carry the Queen's Jubilee Baton through Abingdon in Oxfordshire
in the run-up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games
.
Now he is working with The Learning Skills Foundation as Founder of The Junior Memory Championship, an educational initiative to promote memory strategies in primary schools.
His latest book is called 'Help Your Child Succeed At School' and is published by Hodder.
BBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Oxfordshire, broadcasting on 95.2 FM via the Oxford transmitter and online. The station broadcasts live from the BBC's Summertown studios in Oxford between 5am and 7pm each weekday, for over 13 hours on Saturdays & 19 hours...
. He has written nine books on memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
and learning, and is now working as a primary school teacher.
He was born in north-east England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 12 February 1972, but moved at an early age to North Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
where he spent his early childhood, and then to Nunthorpe, a suburb of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. As a teenager, he became involved in broadcasting through the local hospital radio station.
After school, he took a year in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
before moving to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
to study English at Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. As a student in Oxford, he became involved with the local BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio station, where he went to work after completing his studies.
Jonathan has always had a keen interest in memory and learning. His books have titles such as "How to be a Genius" and "Maximise your Memory", and have been translated into seven languages. He put his own memory techniques to good use in his university studies, gaining an Oxford First, and at the World Memory Championships
World Memory Championships
The World Memory Championships is an organized competition of mental sports in which competitors memorize as much information as possible within a given period of time. The Championship has taken place annually since 1991 and has been staged by various organisations...
in London which he won in 1994.
Jonathan is also a keen runner; he has run the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Marathon twice, and was chosen to carry the Queen's Jubilee Baton through Abingdon in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
in the run-up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
.
Now he is working with The Learning Skills Foundation as Founder of The Junior Memory Championship, an educational initiative to promote memory strategies in primary schools.
His latest book is called 'Help Your Child Succeed At School' and is published by Hodder.